In 1996, when Democrats still thought illegal immigration was a bad thing, President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act making it illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal elections. However, since then, a growing number of states have begun allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. This fundamentally undermines the sanctity of citizen votes and threatens the integrity of our system of government.
Currently three states, Vermont, Maryland and California, allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. Under guidance issued in a new Election Procedures Manual, Arizona would join their ranks. Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation to allow noncitizens to vote in school board elections. Meanwhile, a New York appeals court quashed an attempt by New York City to allow noncitizens to vote, declaring it violated the state constitution. San Francisco has taken it a step further by appointing a noncitizen to their Elections Commission, a 7-member panel overseeing elections and creating electoral policies—responsibilities that ought to be reserved for citizens.
At the national level, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson is raising concerns that the Justice Department’s implementation of Biden Executive Order 14019 would require state prisons to give noncitizens in state custody information on how to register to vote.
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Watson wrote:
"Our understanding is that everyone in the Marshals' custody is given a form advising them of their right to register and vote. Providing ineligible non-citizens with information on how to register to vote undoubtedly encourages them to illegally register to vote, exposing them to legal jeopardy beyond their immigration status."
Earlier this week in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on radical “voting rights” legislation proposed by Democrats, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) asked witnesses if they believed noncitizens should vote in federal elections, and not a single one of the Democrat witnesses could provide a simple yes or no response.
The Federalist captured the exchange:
“Do you believe that only citizens of the United States should be able to vote in federal elections?” Lee asked each of the witnesses.
“We don’t have a position about non-citizens voting in federal elections, we believe that’s what the current laws are, and so we’re certainly fighting for everyone who is eligible under current law to vote,” Executive Director of The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Damon T. Hewitt said.
“That’s a decision of the state law but I want to emphasize –” President of Southwest Voter Registration Education Project Lydia Camarillo said.
“It’s a decision of state law as to who should vote in federal elections?” Lee interjected.
“States decide who gets to vote in various elections, and in federal elections I believe that we should be encouraging people to naturalize and then vote,” Camarillo said.
“Okay but you’re saying that the federal government should have no say in who votes in a federal election?” Lee pressed.
“I don’t have a position on that,” Camarillo responded.
Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project Sophia Lin Lakin told Lee, “Federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in federal elections and our focus is on enabling all eligible voters to be able to vote and cast their ballot.”
No American should hesitate when asked whether:
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 12, 2024
(1) non-citizens should vote in federal elections, and
(2) voters should have to produce a photo ID.
Lots of hesitation from Democrat witnesses at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
That’s alarming.#LibsOutOfTouch https://t.co/aYKRE0DYgL
In response to this growing threat to our election integrity, 12 states are now considering legislation requiring documentary proof of citizenship in order to vote. Seven states already have such laws in place: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, and Ohio.
Under the Biden administration’s open border policies, there have been more than 7.2 million illegal crossings of our Southern Border, an amount greater than the population of 36 states.
If Democrats protect our elections like they protect our borders, it spells grave consequences for the future of our country.